Archives

All posts for the month May, 2018

Disclaimer: The following article is based on the recollection of a conversation; citations are paraphrased – not the exact quotes from the interviewee.

I have not personally met Warren Buffett. However, I had the privilege of meeting Dr Jeff Towson (the #1 followed professor in China on Linked-In and the previous head of Direct Investments for APAC / MENA for Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia) prior to him speaking at our conference, who incidentally had close encounters with Warren Buffett.

My fascination with one of Jeff’s photo taken with Warren Buffett triggered a 2 hour-long conversation about his experience. This is an account of my 2 degrees of separation from one of the world’s greatest philanthropist / investor (and it has nothing to do with investing).

Below is our conversation written in abstract memory 3 weeks after our breakfast meeting in Manila.

SH: Tell me something about Warren Buffett that I don’t read from the media.

JT:

Intelligence

We all know that Warren Buffett is the smartest mind in the world when it comes to investment. One would naturally assume that he has an above average intelligence. But you would not be able to comprehend how incredibly smart he is until you have actually interacted with him. His mind operates like a super computer. For example, if you ask him about Coca Cola, he would have no hesitation reaching out into his memory from a series of his past interactions with Coke; the figures from the annual reports he read, or the name of the people whom he met at the Coke headquarter along with the date and time, down to the specific content of the meetings from few decades ago. He seems to be able to remember everything! I have dealt with plenty of people who are highly intelligent; Warren Buffett is on a whole other level. He is a genius.

Self-awareness

What makes Warren Buffett wise beyond comparison is his astounding level of self-awareness. Given his age and responsibilities, this awareness is crucial. And he keeps track of his mental scorecard on a weekly basis with discipline. The media may pick up on how this 87-year-old enjoys a good game of bridge to unwind after work. Given how mindful and deliberate he is with everything he does, it would not be possible that he only plays bridge once a week simply to “unwind”. I believe it is a mechanism he adopts to keep track of his mental capacity and his memory; to use the scores from his bridge game to measure how well his mind is still functioning. I really believe that’s what he is doing.

Intentions

There’s a famous Warren Buffett quote that “you are the average of the 5 people you spend your time with.” What struck me is how much attention he puts into practicing this quote. Warren Buffett is extremely intentional with whom he chooses to spend time with. Basically, the answer is “No” with most of the people trying to get an appointment with him. Obviously, he has a long list of people wanting to see him, and time is his most valuable commodity that he needs to safeguard.

Warren Buffett is known to surround himself with the best in the world to spend his time with. For example, he has a regular get together with Bill Gates and others who contribute to his passion in advancing humanity. He also allocates a portion of his time dedicated to giving back to the society in educating young people by giving lectures. No time ever goes to waste with Warren Buffett.

People Skills

This is perhaps one of the most overlooked elements of Warren Buffett’s success. When he was young, he spent the early part of his career working solo from home. Even though he was already successful at a young age, he came to the realization that if he wanted to achieve anything of significance, he could not do it all by himself. He needs to get people involved. I don’t think he started off as a great people person. He was conscious in developing his people and leadership skills, to be well liked, and becoming effective in getting people to help him to succeed.

Kindness

SH: Are you a friend of Warren Buffett?

JT:

I have met him a couple of times, but I wouldn’t regard what we have as friendship. Friends are people whom you mutually keep in touch with, think of and care about. It is just impossible to become friends with Warren Buffett in this context.

Don’t get me wrong; he is one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. He has this incredible presence and warmth that he carries with him all the time. Whenever he is in front of you, he’d give you his full attention and make you feel important talking to you. But then, he’d devote the same level of dedication to the next person, and the next person after that. He meets so many people at any given day. It is just not practicable to develop a meaningful friendship with everyone he meets with when he spreads yourself so thin.

SH: What’s the biggest difference between Prince Alwaleed and Buffett?

JT:

Prince Alwaleed can buy any of the best talents he wants to work for him. In fact, Warren Buffett can do that, too. However, Warren Buffett is well liked by everybody because he is such a nice person. If he wants anything done by anyone, all he needs to do is to pick up the phone and make a call and people would bend over backwards to help him. What Warren Buffett has is something that money can’t buy; the loyalty of the people.

Side Note:

Dr Jeff Towson deleted his own Facebook account as a protest to FB’s recent privacy issues; the great professor spent the first 15 minutes of our meeting asking me questions and listened intently to my advice on Podcasting. Finally, he also provided me with free consultation for my chronic shoulder pain (yes, he’s actually a medical doctor). Speaking of humility, generosity and principle, this will be a whole other story saved for another day.

I recently received a request to help put into words my honest opinion about a good friend and how I think she can contribute to the world.

(What a scary question!)

In the process of writing my thoughts, it occurred to me what a profound impact she has had in my life without me realizing it.

Ever wonder how sometimes God send angels into your life purely for your own benefits? I am convinced Isabel is one of those angels.

You’d understand why reading this.

Assignment:

1/ My interpretation of Isabel Valle.

2/ How she can bring value to the world?

I would like to divide my thoughts on Isabel into 3 parts.

The Beginning

My wife and I met Isabel and Peter when they first moved to Brunei on occasional get together at the Australian Embassy, the Radisson Hotel and other social functions.

Our relationships grew to another level one day when my house caught on fire. Isabel and Peter were one of the first people that reached out to us then. We can still remember vividly opening the box of necessities that very evening donated by them. There were toothbrushes, women’s sanitary items for Deon, t-shirts, kids stuff and all the little things that we didn’t know we were missing – packed in a box of well wishes.

I often joked to Isabel that it was as if she was getting ready for our house to burn down with that box waiting for us. On a serious note, that night as we counted our losses, we also counted our blessings in that treasure box which our family will never forget.

I often ask myself, given the same scenario happened in reverse, would I have exhibited the same level of generosity to a casual acquaintance that I have met over social occasions?

Isabel’s good deed has altered our worldview on kindness for strangers. And has also since challenged us to pay it forward, leading with her own example.

So, here’s my first interpretation of Isabel:

Generosity of spirit.

Thoughtful to the nth degree.

The Middle

I was recently prompted by a Facebook Memory of a testimonial post that I wrote of Isabel after she was invited to speak to our team about perseverance and work ethic. I wrote about the difference between a good and a great speaker, and that Isabel belonged to the camp of greatness; one who inspires action long after her speech was delivered. What amused me and caught me by surprise reading back on my note was that, one of my staff actually quit her job after listening to Isabel’s talk!

Beyond that speaking session, Isabel also volunteered as our regular columnist at Inspire magazine. I will occasionally stumble into her past contributions and find myself charged up by her unfiltered messages with crystal clarity. When it comes to Isabel’s writing, I’m a self confessed fan. I’d be the first to read her latest blog post and share them on Facebook whenever she has something new to share, because it makes me look that much smarter to be sharing those words of wisdom.

My second interpretation of Isabel:

Annoyingly honest.

And downright dangerous.

The End

Of course, I hope this will not be the end of what I would learn from Isabel. Despite our geographical difference ever since she moved to Bangkok, I continue to be on the receiving end of this generous friendship.

I launched a series of Masterclasses towards end of last year to share what I have learned from Inspire magazine, while I was at a low point of my career. I had just ended my publications just months earlier.

I was expecting kind compliments and encouraging remarks when I sent her the first draft of my brochure. However, Isabel unreservedly tore it apart. While her brutal honesty hurt, it was a much needed advise that made a world of difference to my messages. My texts came across as weak and lacking in confidence. As a reader, she could sense I was holding back, fighting my own demons with fears and struggle.

Without hesitation, Isabel helped change the whole outlook of my Masterclass by simply tweaking the tone of my writing. She is one of those rare craftsmen who understands how little details can make a huge difference and knows exactly which button to press.

More than editing, it was Isabel’s believe in me that gave me the confidence to share a piece of myself through my Masterclasses.

I had one of the most enjoyable moments catching up with Isabel over breakfast during my recent visit to Thailand. I could feel that Isabel was living in her element. She sounded as though she was taking full control of her life and is thriving with her new found purpose with a world-class personal development program that she was involved in. As always, Isabel also took a special interest in the work I’m doing and the well being of my family.

At the end of the meeting, she made me feel so good by believing in myself more than I do. I remember thinking to myself; I only wish everyone would be lucky enough to have a friend just like Isabel.

Undeniably, there are obvious differences between the Isabel I knew in Brunei a couple of years ago and the Isabel now. She is more polished, more purposeful, guided with more weaponries to make changes.

However, to me, it doesn’t matter how much more polished Isabel gets, it is her greatness of spirit that is long ingrained in her that makes her truly remarkable. The rest of the accolades are simply just a bonus, no matter which ivy league institution she associates herself with.

My third and final interpretation of Isabel?

A Super Smart Person / a Superb Editor / an Amazing Marketeer.

Above all, a Great Teacher.

One whose talent would always be superseded by her kindness and her wholeheartedness in rooting for your success, often time, more so than your own.

The kind of friend that you can only wish for, and brag about because you know it is God favor that he planted an angel into your midst.